 Photo by Randy Butters  The Newaygo Conservation Stewards Program (NCSP) will start this fall in early September. Registration has opened, so anyone interested in taking a deep dive into our local eco-systems are encouraged to apply now. Who should participate in this program? “Anyone with an interest in our unique Newaygo native habitats, and who wants to learn how to protect and restore our environment,” states Sally Wagoner of the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition, and a member of the NCSP Planning Team. This 8-week program is created by MSU Extension and led by local and regional experts in the ecological areas found in the Newaygo County: Forests, Wetlands, Lakes, Streams, Grasslands and Prairies. Presenters will include Jack Lemon of Trout Unlimited; Tyler Basset of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory; Rod Denning, District Forester at Oceana Conservation District; Lucas Dykstra of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan; Alexis DeGabriele and Cory Wells of the Little River Band of Odawa Indians; and Sarah Pregitzer of Newaygo Invasive Plants Project, among others. This is only the second time the Conservation Stewards Program will be held in the Newaygo County Region. A main purpose of having the program here is to increase community awareness of the rich local natural habitats, and to engage people in their restoration and protection. JoAnn Barrett graduated from the NCSP in 2024 and is now on the Planning Team to help bring it back to Newaygo County in September 2025. “The amount of information and the people I was given access to from this program has boosted my confidence in conservation stewardship exponentially! I have made dear friends, great connections and gained new perspectives from this course – so much so that I am proud to be on the Planning Team for this year. I truly believe this program is a foot in the door that anyone can use to make big changes in the world.” “The Newaygo Conservation Stewards Program provided not only great information about the natural communities in our county, but the opportunity to meet and network with a group of local people who are also interested in preserving these places,” states Marie Wilson, 2024 graduate and now a member of the Planning Team. Amanda Paige graduated from the NCSP last fall and was honored at the State wide Conservation Stewards Alumni Conference in May. “The Conservation Stewards Program ranks near the top of transformational experiences in my life. Not only did it introduce me to some of the most brilliant, dedicated, and motivated people and organizations I’ve ever been around, it helped me understand conservation efforts in a new way.” The classes will meet on Tuesdays, September 9 - November 4, from 6pm - 8:30pm. They will begin with a short field tour at various habitats around the County followed by classroom presentations by local and regional experts. There will also be two Saturday Field Trips: September 27 & October 18. Class size is limited so early registration is encouraged. Scholarships are available and can be requested during the online registration. Partners in planning the Newaygo Cohort of the Conservation Stewards Program include the Newaygo Conservation District, Newaygo Invasive Plants Project, Newaygo County Environmental Coalition, the Little River Band of Odawa Indians, MSU Extension, and the Fremont Area Community Foundation. More information about class locations and registration can be found at: www.canr.msu.edu/conservation_stewards_program/newaygo, or scan the QR code. Questions can be directed to Sarah Pregitzer ([email protected]) or Sally Wagoner ([email protected]). 
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 “I still have that feeling the first time we met every time I see you.”-Jayson Edgay “Where did you two meet?” Years ago, I co-facilitated a couples therapy group and as a bit of introduction this was the question that generally got asked. Is it important? Who knows? But generally it makes a good story. We all know couples who met in school with some who dated then and stayed together until marriage and some who kind of knew each other but ended up getting paired up years later. Couples I have known over the years have met in bars, grocery stores and workplaces, at parties and book stores, while attending concerts, ballgames and festivals. There are set ups from friends, online services designed to match folks up and speed dating has apparently made a comeback in some circles. The couples listed below have recently decided to sign on for the delightful duration known as marriage. Each has a story of how they met. Call it Chapter One In some kind of way that meeting led to showing up at the clerk's office. And the opportunity to add many more chapters to the story of their relationship. Peggy Rogers, Newaygo & Kim Barry, Newaygo Calla Miller, Fremont & Tommy Sparks, Fremont Logan Stroven, Grant & Julia Cole, Newaygo  Village of Hesperia Unveils Immersive Mural “A Walk in the Park” by Local Artist Renae Wallace at Vida Weaver Park.
Hesperia — The Village of Hesperia is proud to unveil “A Walk in the Park,” a vibrant new public art installation by local artist Renae Wallace, now on display at Vida Weaver Park. Painted directly onto a municipal well house, the immersive, interactive mural invites visitors to explore nature, imagination, and play—right in the heart of the village. This colorful and whimsical mural transforms a once-unnoticed utility building into a joyful destination for all ages. Wallace, a Newaygo County artist known for her nature-inspired work, infused the piece with bold colors and whimsy, referencing a poem from Jeff Foxworthy. A Walk in the Park is the third installation in the broader HesperiART Initiative, a community-driven effort to promote Hesperia as the Hub of Vacationland through public art. The initiative aims to complete six installations by the end of 2025 and has already brought art into unexpected places, with more projects in progress, including a stunning three-dimensional student-created mural. This project was generously funded by the Community Foundation for Oceana County via Electric Forest Charitable Fund and the Fremont Area Community Foundation, including the Rich and Kerriann Meeuwenberg Advised Fund and the Roger and Rebecca Tuuk Advised Fund, whose continued investment in local arts and placemaking has made HesperiART possible. Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit Vida Weaver Park, enjoy the mural, and share their photos using #HesperiART. For more information or to get involved with the HesperiART initiative, follow the project on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/HesperiaPublicArt  Here are the most recent couples deciding to put the stamp of marriage on their relationship. May they always remember the reasons they chose to walk this adventurous journey together. Tiffany Loveless, Bitely & Erik Kinslow, Bitely Vicki Voogd, Grant & Keith Vanderwoude, Delton Amber Dood, White Cloud & Tony Scytko, White Cloud Madison Webster, Fremont & Alex Walker, Fremont Curtis Ransom, White Cloud & Jessica Johnson, White Cloud “The thrill of falling in love is often the thrill of being loved; the thrill of marriage is the thrill of loving someone for the rest of your life. Each day - and year - that passes is a triumph of this act of loving.”- Susan Waggoner “I Do, I Do” |
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